Air refrigerating and circulating facilities



Dec. 22, 1942. E. A. swEELEY ETAL 2,305,645

AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRCULATING FACILITIES Filed 'July '7, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet l ,1 sul? r//j l Il r" Dec. 22, 1942. E, A SWEELEY TAL2,305,645

AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRCULATING FACILITIES Filed July 7, .1938 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1942.

E. A. swEELEY Erm.

AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRGULATING FACILITIES Filed July '7, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 4 gmc/Wto@ Patented Dec. 22, 1942 AIR REFRIGERATING ANDCIRCULATING FACILITIES i Edward A. Sweeley, Alexandria, Va., and NormanT. Anderson, Washington, D. C.

Application July 7, 1938, Serial No. 218,022

(Cl. 62-1'l) 22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in air refrigerating andcirculating'facilities for railway refrigerator cars; tand moreparticularly to impro-vements in so-called overhead ice bunkers for themerchandise chambers of railway refrigerator cars and to improved meansfor circulating refrigerated air within a railway refrigerator car. The'present invention, however, is also applicable to cars, trucks, shipsand storage houses, generally, which require refrigeration to preservethe merchandise being transported -or stored.

The conventional railway refrigeratoi` cars now in general use areequipped with ice bunkers located at each end of the car. This type ofice bunker construction has certain definite disadvantages.

The conventional endice bunkers of a railway car usuallyhave a combinedice capacity of about live tons. Nevertheless, the total area of exposedsurfaces presented by `auch an amount of ice for cooling the circulatingair by direct contact therewith is comparatively small. This area mightbe increased to some extent by use of socalled divided basket bunkersfor the car end ice bunkers, but would still be less than that desired.The greatest possible surface c'ontact between the ice and the air isdesired as it facilitates cooling of the air and thereby promotes rapidmovement of the air in its circulation between the car lading space andlthe ice bunkers.

In railway cars having conventional end ice bunkers, the circulating airmust travel between the center or the door-way section of the car ladingspace and the opposite ends thereof to provide for both cooling of theair and refrigerating of the entire shipment of merchandise. Thecirculating air, therefore, has a relatively great distance to travel ina complete cycle'for refrigerating the car lading space. Thissubstantial distance of travel for the refrigerating air reduces itsrate of circulation. The rate of circulation of air in a refrigeratorcar is dependent not only on the difference between the temperament ofoverhead lice bunkers along-the entire length of the car may result inmore rapid re,

frigeration and in a more uniform temperature throughout the car. ladingspace. Nevertheless, overhead ice bunkers have not, heretofore, comeinto general use for railway refrigerator cars. The previously proposedinstallations of overhead ice bunkers have certain objectionablefeatures which preclude their acceptance in the railway art. One of thedisadvantages in the prior proposals for overhead ice bunkerinstallations is that they require very large supplies of ice andexcessively heavy supports. Such installations would result in atop-heavy and, therefore,

impractical car. The prior art overhead ice bunkers present stillanother objection. Such ice bunkers extended across the entire width ofthe car lading space, and made it difdcult to prevent water orcondensation from dripping on the lading.

The present invention provides a structure, which not only eliminatesthe disadvantages of the above described prior 4railway car end andoverhead ice bunkers, but which also presents a number of importantimprovementsin the general facilities for refrigerating railway cars.

The present invention in the preferred embodiment illustrated by theaccompanying drawings includes overhead ice bunkers or ice tank units.These novel overhead ice bunkers offer all the advantages of the priorart overhead ice bunkers, as well as a number of additional advantages.

The overhead ice bunkerinstallations of this invention are distinctlyeffective and efficient for car refrigeration. With railway carinstallations of the present, invention, the extent Voftravel ofcirculating air in a complete cycle is limited by the width of the carlading space rather than controlled by the length of the car ladingspace as is the case where end ice bunkers are provided. This invention,therefore, provides for more rapid cooling of the merchandise to berefrigerated. Furthermore, the ice bunkers of this invention provideIfor the ice being spread out or distributed c-ver such a relativelylarge area that the refrigerating action of the ice upon the air to becooled will be greatly facilitated and promote rapid circulation of theair. Another advantage afforded by the overhead ice bunkers of thisinvention is that they present a relatively large` bottom surface forheat exchange contact with air to be cooled. A

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide overhead icebunkers or tank units of practical limits and willbe equalized betweensecured throughout the same.

tion forA overhead icetank units that`-they will such construction thatthe overhead weightl of the -ear, when provided with such tank unitsllled'with ice, will` be within permissible and the car'ends.

A' further object of this invention is to provide overhead 'ice tankunits at diagonally opposite e corners of a refrigerator car and therebyleave the center or doorway section of the lading space unobstructedfrom car door to car ceiling.

Another object o f this invention is to provide overhead ice tank unitsat diagonally opposite vcorners ofthe car roof and to so support theicetank units that the car lading spaces adjacent thereto will be freeof obstructions from l5 car floor to car ceiling.

. Another object of this invention is to provide overhead ice bunkers ortank units of such construction as to require only a relatively smalldepth and to allow additional headroom below the overhead ice tankunits.

Another object of this invention is to provide railway cars withoverhead ice bunkers which are formed in sections or units that may belinstalled or removed independently of one another.

A still further object of this invention is to provide overhead ice tankunits for holding an ice and salt mixture and also retaining a brineconcentrate, whereby the tank units will combine the advantages ofcooling by direct contact with ice and cooling by direct contact withrefrigerated tank surfaces. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide railway cars withoverhead ice tank umts of such constructionthat the car is adapted foruse in either refrigerating or Ventilating its'shipment of merchandise..If desired, the car may also be provided with vheating service by.placing car heaters in the doorway section of the car lading space orbelow the car iloor.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide an overhead type of icetank unit, in which 'the bottom thereof is of suchconstructionas toprovide a support. for the ice and'also channels below the icefordraining the water and/or brine resulting from ice meltage.

Another object of this invention is to provide an overhead ice vtankunit with such construction for its exterior walls that they will .gonot onlyfcontribiite to the rigidity of the unit but will also presentan extensive area of sur-l Iace for exposure to circulating air andelect a more rapid circulation of the air over, through and around saidice tank unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ice vtank unit withpartition members extending between its inner sidewalls to reenforce theice tankmnit, to preventsplashing of liquid within the unit, and toprevent 'shifting of the ioe within the unit. A

A stillfturther-object is to provide improved supporting means foroverhead ice bunkers.

A furtherobject is to provide improved'means ior distributingrefrigerated air into a car lading space, whereby a moreuniformtemperature is Another object is to provide .such construcprovideadequate refrigeration for railway cars' 70 with smaller supplies of icethan those required by conventional ice bunkers. i 1

Other. objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description, the appended claims, andthe accompanying draw- 75vof the car as illustrated in the drawings.

` vidually.

ings which latter illustrate a embodiment of this invention.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure I'ls a topplan view-Lor a'railwa'y'ref frigerat'or car andoverhead ice tank units.ar.

ranged therein in accordance withthls invention.

Figure'II is a longitudinal, vertical-cross-sectional view taken on lineII-II of Figure I and illustrates an embodiment of this invention.

Figure III is a perspective view ofthe overhead ice tank units, balesand drip pan means .showninFigure II.- L

-vFigure IV is a transverse, vertical cross-sectional view taken on lineIV-IVy of Figure I. with parts broken away to facilitate illustration.Figure V is avertical, cross-sectional detail view taken on line V-V ofFigure I. with parts broken away for purposes of illustration.

Figure VI is a rear elevational view of the ,ice tank unit at the endofthe car in Figure II.

Figure VII is an' elevational view of one side of the ice tank unitadjacent the center of the car in FigureII, the Figure VII view beingtaken on line VII--VII of Figure II. v

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, they illustrate aconventional railway refrigerator car provided .with air refrigeratingand circulating means embodying the present invention. The railway vcarhas a lading space f I and the usual car iloor 2,' ceiling 3,- sidewalls 4, and end walls 5 see Figures II and IV). The yillustrated car isalso of 'the Stype having centrally located side doors, and hatchways 1extending through`the car roof. These hatchways 1 may be lined withmetal' and are closed by means of hatchwaycovers 8. One of thesehatchway covers 8 is omitted-in Figure I to provide a view of theinterior of the car from above the car roof. These hatchway covers" 8close the hatchways 1 when the car is to be used under refrigeratingconditions and may be opened, as indicated by the dotted line positionof the hatch cover 8 in Figure II, when ventilation of the car isdesired. In the illustrated railway car, there arethree hatchways 'I ateach side of the car, althoughr any desired number' may be provided. Thehatchways'l are provided to permit loading of the car with ice and salt,but may be eliminated under lcertain circumstances if solid carbondioxide is to be used as the refrigerant. The hatchways'lare desirableif additional solid carbon dioxide will be required by the car intransit or if the car will require ventilation. v l

The railway car is provided with two series -of icebunkers or tank unitsI0. 'Ihe two series of ice tank umts lo are arranged" overhead andadjacent opposite car side walls I. These two ,series of ice tank unitsfl! also preferably extend in opposite directions from adJacent the doorsection of the car to the respective ends .In the preferred practiceoi'l this invention, a hatchway 1 'is provided for anddirectly over eachice tank unit I0, so that each may be serviced indi- Ice tank units A11the ice tank umts In at the opposite sides y of the car may be and areshown in the drawings cf the same construction. A description of one icetank unit Il! will,'therefore, sulcefor all. The ice tank units I0preferably are relatively shallow to provide maximum head room below theunits when supported adjacent the car ceilingv 3. The depth `of. theindividual ice tank surface for direct contact with air to be cooled.4

The wall and bottom members I I, I2, I3 and I4 of an ice tank unit I0,however, might be formed tal flanges of their side angle irons I9 inclose or abutting relation to define the upper limit for air spaces orpassages 23 (see Figures III and V) extending between adjacent sidesofthe ice tank units Ill.l A similar air passage 24 is provided betweenthe. car 'end wall 5 and the adjacent ice 'f tank unit I0 (see FigureV). The ice tank units of flat sheet metal with ns or flanges on itsouter side to increase its area of cooling surface. The tank bottom I4also preferably slopes (see Figure IV) from the front wall I2 to therear` wall I3 to provide drainage for melting ice. The

'corrugations in the tank bottom I4 should also extend in the samedirection as the slope thereof to facilitatev drainage of the ice tankunit III.- A drainage collecting trough I5 is provided adjacent the rearwall I3 by suitably shaping that part of the tank bottom I4.

The ice tank unit I0 maybe reinforced by partition means I6 extendingbetween the opposite side walls II and similar partition means I1extending between front and rear imperforate walls I2 ,and I3. Thesepartition means I6Aand Il are preferably vformed of apertured,corrugated sheet metal, but may be formed of vother suitable material.These partition means I6 and I1 are I Each ice tank unit III has itsupper wall portions of foraminous construction. The upper tank portionis preferably formed of wire screening I8, as shown in the drawings, butmay also be formed from perforated plates or by a louvered construction.Where wire screening I8 is used,

it is desirable to provide a rigid reinforcing framework which maycomprise side, front and metallic members 'I 9, 20, 2 I, and 22. Themetallic members I9, 23 and 22 may be formed of angle iron, and themember 2l may be in the form of a channel bar. Ill which has nowbeendescribed may be secured to the adjacent tank unit 'parts bywelding,or in any other suitable manner, to provide a rigid and durablestructure which requires no external also preferably welded to the tankunit side walls A ice.

Each part of the ice tank unitA reinforcement and will give eiiicientserviceover relatively long periods of time. It will be noted that thecorner tie members or angle irons 22. are welded or otherwise rigidlysecured at their lower ends to the lower imperforate ice tank portionand Aat their upper ends to the adjacent portions of the angleand/orchannel irons (I9,

4the car. However, a single ice tank unit of appropriate length may' besubstitutedfor each serie'sshown in the drawings. The ice tank units I0of each series are arranged with the horizon- I0 at their upper edgesare also spaced from the adjacent car side wall 4 (seeFgures III and IV)by their channel irons 2.I to provide a continuous air space or passage25 along the adjacent car side wall 4. l

Each ice tank unit Ill may be supported from the adjacent inner car sidewall 4 by means of hinge connections such as shown in Figures III,

IV and VII. Eachof these hinge connections` comprises a bracket 30having a vertically extending ortion bolted to the car side wall 4.and ahorizo tally extending armv portion 3I pivotally connected at its outerend to a strap 32 which may be weldedv or otherwise suitably secured toa tank bottom I4. The bracket 3U may be renforced by a web or braceportion 33 extending between and, secured to the vertical and horizontalparts of bracket 30. It willbe noted that this bracket 3|) not onlyserves to pivotally support its respective ice tank unit I0, but alsoserves to maintain the, desired distance between the lower portionthereof and the adjacent car side wall 4 for forming the air passage 25.Each tank unit I0 may be pivotally supported by two or more of thebrackets 30 arranged on the adjacent side wall 4 in spaced relation.

A p eferred arrangement of ice tank units I0 is illustrated vin thedrawings, but other arrangements maybe used without departing from thebroader aspects of this invention, y y

Each ice-tank unit I0 is also secured in the merchandise chamber so asto =be maintained in the substantially horizontal position indicated byFigures II and IV for normal refrigerating serv- The ice tank units arepreferably secured to the merchandise chamber ceiling 3 or car roof withthe horizontal flanges or portions of the tank unit angle bars I9 and 20abutting on the chamber ceiling 3. The tank units may be releasablysecured in this operative position by removable bolts 35 (see Figures IIand IV) extending through the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 20and into or through adjacent car roof supporting members. The width of atank unit II) is preferably about one-half the width of the carinterior. The angle irons 20 will, therefore, be secured in place alongsubstantially the longitudinal centerv of the car. If foraminous platestake the place of the screens I8,the former may be provided with flangessimilar to the-horizontal flanges or portions of the angle and channelirons I9, 20 and 2|.

Combined air bape and drip pan means Each series of ice tank units IIIis also provided with means forming a continuous air bale and drip panfor all the ice tank units I0 in the series. This means may comprise asheet metal member 36 for each ice tank unit I0. Each sheet metal member36 has a vertical baille portion 31 constituting asection o f saidcontinuous air baille. Another portion 38 of each sheet metal member 36is disposed below the respective ice tank unit III to serve as its drippan. 'I'his drip pan A38 preferably slopes downwardly toward itsvrearward portion which -is suitably shaped to provide a dripcollectingtrough 39 (seeFigure IV). The combined baille and drip pan members 36are preferably spaced from their respective ice tank units I8 to providecommunicating air passages or conduits 40 and 4| (see Figure IV).

The air in cir-.

culating downwardly through air passage 40 and then through air passage4| will be cooled and tend to reduce" in volume. It is, therefore,preferred that the air passage gradually becomes smaller in depth towardits outlet end adjacent the car side wall 4 to compensate for thischange` in the air and to maintain maximum contact of the heads of thebolts 46 to the brackets 45 and having the nuts 41 threaded on their'respective belts as from the outer side ef the combined tiene and drippan members 36.

The adjacent edges 48 of adjoining sheet metal members 36 preferablymeet intermediate the ice tank units I0, as shown by Figures III and V.To

prevent the drip of the ice tank units |Il from passing between theadjacent drip pan edges 48, the

` latter may be assembled as shown vin Figure lV.

The drip pan edges 48 are preferably curved and arranged to provide araised rib, over which is positioned a correspondingly curved removablestrip 49 to serve as a co`ver plate or' seal forA the drip pan joint. The sealing strip 49 and the curved drip pan edges 48 are secured inassembled relation and to adjacent brackets 45 by means of boli's 46,nuts 41 and washers 50, which latter are shaped to conform to the ribformed by the curved edges 48. A plurality of these brackets 45 lmay beso secured to the opposed sides of adjacent ice tank units I thatalternate brackets 45 will be carried 1 by one of the ice tank units Iland the remaining brackets 45 by the other ice tank unit I0. Thisalternating arrangement of brackets 45 will serve not only to supportthe combined baille and drip pan members 36,but also to maintain the icetank units l0 in the desired spaced relation for providing the airpassages 23. A iointsuch as has just been described for adjacent drippans 38 may also be provided for adjacent air baille members 31.

Although the combined drip pan and air baille means for a series of icetank units I8 has been illustrated in the drawings as formed of aplurality of sheet metal members 36, it will be apparent that a singlecontinuous member extending the entire length of the respective seriesof ice tank units Il might be used in their stead.

' At each car end; the adjacent drip pan member 38 may have anupstanding flange 5| (see Figures III, V and VI). The car ends may carrya plate member 52 having a lower o'set portion 53 to pro.-

vide with the car end wall a slot forreceiving the adjacent drip panflange 5|. .This construction for the drip pans 38 at the car endsdeects the drip and also prevents its splashing over the drip pan edge.

To avoid splashing of the drip on merchandise adjacent the doorwaysection of the car, the adjacent drippans 38 may have upstanding iiangesor bailies 54 as shown in Flgures'V and VII.

. Means for draining ice tank units and'drip pansV 'rh'e drainage troughls, of each' ice tank una a,sos,e45j Y A I8' slopes toward an outletopening 58 which may be located below partition means |1 and midwaybetween thetrough ends, as shown in Figure III. Thisoutlet opening 58has threaded connection with a removable pipe fittings leading into adrain pipe 60 which terminates below the railway car. In order toprovide for controlled discharge `of the brine concentrateK or otherliquid from each ice tank unit I8, a valve 6| of any suitable form maybe provided for each of the respective drain pipes 66. Each valve 6| isactuated by a link 62 connected at one end to an operating rod 63 whichextends'upwardly through the car roof. The end of each operating rod 63Figures IV and VI to open the respective valve 6 I and is'IOWered-tothefull line'position of those figures to close its valve 6I. Each handle64 is preferably positioned to overlie the surrounding top edge brvframe of the respective hatchway 1, as shownin Figures I and IV, inorder that its rod 63 must necessarily be in the lower position to closethe respective valve 6I when the corresponding hatchway 1 is closed by ahatch cover 8. The hatch covers 8 are always in positionto close thehatchways 1 when the railway car is in transit and operating underrefrigeration conditions; The valves 6I will,l therefore, be kept closedduring car movements and prevent the brine concentrate from dropping vonthe right of way. Thel valves 6| cannot be opened when the hatch covers8 are in the closed pomtion, nor can the hatchwayeovrers 8 be lowered totheir closed position when the handles v64| are lying handle 64 when theformer is in ,position to close its hatchway 1. The ice tank unitchannel bars 2| may also be notched or apertured at 65 (see Figure III)to accommodate the rods 83 which extend therethrough.-

As air circulates along and -in contact with the imperforate walls Il,|2 and I3 and bottoms u ef the iee'tank units lo, it is refrigerated andloses at least some of its moisture content byv condensation. Thiscondensate or drip is collected by the drip pans 38 and drains into thetroughs 39. Each trough 38 has an outlet con- 'A nection 68 fitting intoand detachable from a vpipe 61v which communicates with the respectivedrain pipe 60below its valve 6| for continuously discharging thecondensate as rapidly as it collects on the respective drip pan 38. Adetachable pipe tting 68 may be provided in each' pipes 81. It will alsobe noted here that the rear edges of the drip pans 38 areshapedto'so-accommodate the pipe fittings 59 that the drip pans may beremoved or installed without'disturbina the Dipe fittings 59. i

' Side walland floor `racks vvin t e form of'a plurality of horizontallydrrecte streams; and the remainder 'will find exit from the conduits 12at their lower ends. f

The spacing of slats 1I may be uniform in acl cordance with conventionalpractice, but the preferred arrangement is to have the slats 1I adjacentthe car oor 2 spaced further apart than theeslats 1I adjacent the icetank units I0. The spacing of the slats 1I, for example,

may be such that theI area of outlet for the refrigerated airprogressively increases from adjacent the ice tank units I to the carfloor 2. By l spacing the slats1l in the manner indicated as preferred,the air will be so distributed within the lading space I as to provide amore uniform temperature' throughout the car lading space. The preferredspacing will provide for the greater party of the refrigerated air beingreleased adjacent f the car floor, in order that there will be adequatecold air circulation over the entire width of the car. If themerchandisechamber is provided with a double deck, such as shown in Patents2,077,649 and 2,077,650, dated April 20, 1937, or other multiple deckstructure for supporting the lading, the side wall slats 1I may be sorelatively spaced that larger spaces 13 are provided immediately beloweach deckte supply the space below each deck with sufiicient freshlycooled air, The uprights may be of solid construction,

. as shown in the drawings, to prevent air circulation betweenthe`conduits 12 or may be of foraminated or perforated metal orothersuitable material to provide a'substantially continuous air spaceextending the full length of the side wall slats 1I and along theadjacent side Wall 4.

The end wall slats 14 (see Fig. II) may be lspaced similarly to the sidewall slats 1I to present a uniform and more' attractive appearance.

The main car oor 2 is provided with a false or foraminous oor rackstructure in the form of spaced iioor rack slats 15 extendinglongitudinally of the car. These floor slats 15 are supported by oorrack stringers 16 which extend transversely of the car and rest on themain car floor 2. The floor rack stringers 16 arel spaced apart toprovide air conduits 11 extending 'along the car floor 2 from car sidewall 4 to opposite car side wall 4. These floor conduits 11 receivetheir supplies of refrigerated air from the side wall conduits 12, whichlose only part of their refrigerated air' through the slat spaces 13. Ifair circulation is desired below oor slats 15 for the fulllength of thecar lading space I, the oor `floor conduits 11 into the lading space I.

Uniform spacing, according to conventional practice, may be provided forthe floor slats 15.

such that they present a progressively increas- 'ing area of outletopenings from the side of the the outlet spaces 13 will supplement thecooling effect of the more limited flow of vcold air rising through thefloor slat spaces 18 below the ice tank units I0. The refrigerated airwill, therefore, be ,so distributed by the slatA spaces 13 and 18 that asubstantially uniform temperature will bex rapidly secured andconstantly maintained in' the car lading space I.

The drainage connections and pipes which are located within the car tocarry oi ice meltage and water of condensation, are preferably placedwithin conveniently located side wall conduits 12. This arrangement willleave the lading space I clear of obstructions between the side wallslats 1I (see Fig. IV) and those at the opposite side of the merchandisechamber. In order to provide for ready access to the valves 6I and thepipes 61, the upper side wall slats 1I, for example, the uppermost twoat the right in Fig. IV, may be releasably secured to the uprights 10,as by means of screws.

Air circulation i air passages 4I for cooling by direct contact with the4corrugated exterior surfaces of the adjacent .l parts of the ice tankunits I0. The cold air in tween adjacent ice tank units I0. Air entering'rack stringers 16 may be of open work of foram- In a preferredconstruction, however, closer spacing is provided for the floor slats 15which are positioned below the ice tank units I 0 than for the floorrack slats 15 at the opposite side of the car. The spacing of the floorslats 15l may be the ice tank units I-Il is chilled by direct contactwith the ice. P art of this air, cooled directly by the ice, flowsthrough the screens I8 at the rear of the ice tank units Ill and intothe air spaces l 25 (see Figure IV), which communicate at their lowerends with the side wall conduits 12. Another part vof the air cooled bydirect contact with the ice flows through the side screens I8 of the icetank units I0 and downwardly in the air spaces 23, 24 and 55 (see FigureV) to the air passages 4I. All'the air cooled by the ice tank units I0will, therefore, be directed into the side wall conduits 12 which supplythe refrigerated air into the lading space I by way of outlet spaces 13and also by way of oor conduits 11 and their outlet spaces 18.

The ice tank units I0 combine the advantages of two methods forrefrigerating air and produce results which are not accomplished byeither method when used alone. The two methods referred to are coolingby direct contact with ice and cooling by direct contact with surfacesrefrigerated by a brine concentrate. By combining -the two types of aircooling, the ice tank units use of either method without the other, andprovide in the lading space I a temperature or atmosphere diiiere'ntfrom that which `would be produced by the use of only one of saidmethods.

Another advantage provided by the combined type of ice tank unit I0 isthat the air cooled by direct contact with the ice and salt mixtureportion-retaining the brine concentrate. difference in temperaturebetweenY the air cooled by direct contact with the ice and salt mixtureand the airv chilled by direct contact with the tank walls which retainlthe brine concentrate n produces such modifying influence of onetemperature on theother. that the.'formation of a frost incrustation onthe outer surfaces ofthe tank unit I0 'is avoided. As a result, airwill' come into'more intimate contact with the external surfaces of thetank units I0, and release a0 a greater number of 4heat units than itwould otherwise. 'I'he eect is to provide a volume of 'refrigerated airwhich-is-,suitable for transportation of meat, dairy products,vegetables or fruit, y withoutv deterioration in either class of comg5modity.

Cleaning and inspection of ice tank units I'he support andrelativefarrangement which are provided by this invention for the icetank umts III and the combined bailie and drip pan members 36 facilitatetheir individual inspection, cleaning and repairing. Asexplained in thefore'- going description, the pipe connections 59 and the pipes 61 arereadily deta-chable from the re- 35 spective ice tank units I6 and drippans 38. A removable pipe fitting 66 may 'be provided in each drain pipe66, so that the pipes 61, the pipe connections 59 uand the valves 6I maybe lowered or removed to permit ready removal of therespective drip pans36 and lowering of the ice tank units I0.. The uppermost side wallslats. 1 I, for example, -the uppermost two at the right in Figure IV,are also removed to permit access to the valves 6I, the pipes 61,andsthe pipe ttings 68. 4

Each combined baille and drip pan member 36 is also lreadily detachablefrom its respective ice .tank unit III by removing the correspondingnuts I1. It will be noted at thispoint that each ice 'tank unit I0provides the support for its respec- 50 tive bafiie and drip pan member3'6, winch, therefore, need'not be, and preferably is not, connected toor supported directly by the car side walls 4 or car ceiling 3. Thebolts 35 ofthe ice tank unit I 0 to be inspected, repaired or cleanedare then re- 55 will now be evident that the ice tank unitsllf in aseries may be lowered and Vinspected either individually or as agroup.Reassembly of the ice tank units III, the combined bafile and drip pan.members 36, and the drainage connections mamalso be easily accomplished.It will be noted that the ice tank units, I0 carry brackets 45 to vwhichare weided the bolts 4s. This construetion greatly simpliiies attachmentofthe combined baille and drip pan members 36 to the respective '70 ice'tank units I6. y

The accompanying drawings show a railway refrigerator car with a singlemerchandise chamber or lading space I, but this invention obviously onemerchandise chamber I. In the latter case,

all the 'merchandise chambers might be provided with similararrangements of the air circulating, refrigerating and 'Ventilatingmeans disclosed in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that the foregoing is illustrative, and that thisinvention includes all embodiments `and modifications coming within thscope of the appended claims. i y

We claim: f 1

1. In arailway refrigerator oar, the combination with a merchandisechamber havinga oeil:

ing, a door andside walls, of'an ice tank unit arranged adjacent thechamber ceiling and one of said side walls, a flange extendingirom theupper edge of said ice tank to space the same from said side wall, meansmounted on said side wall and pivotally supporting the lower portion ofsaid ice tank unit in spaced relation with `respect to said side wall,means securing said ice tank unit to the chamber ceiling and cooperatingwith said pivotal means to maintain said ice tank unit in position forrefrigerating service.- said se- -curing means being releasable topermit said ice tank unit to be swung downwardly onl said pivotalsupport. Y

2. In a structure 'of the character described for a merchandise chamberto be refrigerated, the combination comprising an ice tank unit tocontain a refrigerant, brackets carried by and extending from outersurfaces of said ice tank unit,

securing said drip pan means to said brackets and -in spaced relationlwith respect to said ice tank unit, and detachable drainage means forsaid ice tank unit and drip pan.

3. In a structure of the character described for a merchandise chamberto be refrigerated, the combination comprising a refrigerant container,brackets carried by said container, some of said brackets extendingoutwardly from a side wall of Y said container and other bracketsextending below the bottom thereof, means including a bailie member anda drip pan, and means -detachably 5 securing said 'baille and drip panmeans to said brackets with the' baiiie member arranged along and spacedfrom said side wall and with lthe drip l pan arranged below and spacedfrom the bottom ber ceiling, means providing a continuous watertightdrip pan for all said container units and formed of a jplurality ofsections, one section for each container unit, said drip pan sectionsbeing arranged side by side with their adjacent edges meeting below thespace'intermediate thejrespective container units, brackets carried byand ex- .tending below saidcontainer units at the adjacent sidesthereof, and means for releasably seeming said drip pan sections to saidbrackets.

5. A drip pan structure for overhead refrigerating means in arefrigerator car,'said drip pan comprising at least two sections placedside by side and havingadjacent portions curved and combined to form arib, -a strip extending lengthwise of and overlying said rib to preventdrip from passing between the said sections, and means for maintainingsaid sections, rib and strip in assembled'relation.

6. An overhead ice tank unit comprising side and'bottom walls to providea refrigerant conmay be used in railway cars having morer thantainerhaving its length andwidtli of greater d1.

- portions of said being of imperforate construction to retain anlasoaeezs mension than its depth, the upper portions of said side wallsbeing of foraminous construction to surround an ice and salt mixturathelower side walls and said bottom wall ice and brine mixture andpresenting irregular outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area, meansa rigid reinforcement and framework for said foraminous side wallportions, andi, means extending across the'interio'r of said containerfor reinforcing the side walls thereof.

'7. The combination with a railway car refrigf erator chamber, of arefrigerant tanksuspended therein, said tank comprising a reinforcedimperforate bottom wall to support the refrigerant and carry off the'refrigerant fluid, and a coin-l bined baiiie and -drip pan ofixnperforate con- 7 tank unit imperforate portions for cooling by directcontact therewith. 1

11. In combination with a merchandise chamberto be refrigerated, anoverhead ice tank unit 5 comprising side and 'bottom walls to provide alproviding with said imperforate side wall portions refrigerantcontainer, the upper portions of said side walls being of foraminousconstruction to surround anice and salt mixture, the lower portions ofsaid side walls and said bottom wall being of imperforate constructionto retain an ice and brine mixture and being of irregular contour incross-section to provide strength for the container and to presentirregular outer surfaces oi.' enlarged superficial area for contact withair to be cooled, and baille and drip pan means spaced porting means tosecure said ice tank unit in normal position for refrigerating serviceand releasable to permit pivotal movement `of said ice tank unit, andair baffle means detachably secured to said ice tank unit. p

9. In combination with a railway refrigerator car merchandise chamber,an overhead tank unit constructed to retain an ice and brine mixture,brackets rigidly secured to and extending from the outer wall surfacesof said tank unit, and means including a combined drip pan and airbaffle for said tank unit, said means being suspended from anddetachably supported solely by said brackets. 10. In combination with amerchandise chamber to be refrigerated, an overhead ice tank unitarranged adjacent the chamber ceiling, said ice tank unit having sideand bottom walls to provide a refrigerant container, the upperportionsof said side Walls beingof foraminous construction to surround an iceand salt mixture, the

lower portions of said side walls and said bottom wall being cfimperforate construction to retain an ice and brine mixture and being ofirregular contour in cross-section to provide strength for the containerand to present irregular outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area forcontact with air to be cooled, means pivotally connecting said tank unitto aside wall of said chamber, means detachably connecting an upper wallportion of said tank unit to the chamber ceiling and cooperating withsaid pivotal connecting means to maintain said tank unit in position forrefrigerating service with said tank unit bottom wall suspended from andsupported by the side Walls of the tank unit, and a combined drip panand baiiie extending below said ice tank unit and upwardly at at leastone side thereof to a level substantially l from and supported solely bysaid ice tank unit to provide therewith a passage for leadingcirculating air into contact with said outer surfaces of enlargedsuperficial area.

ber to be refrigerated and having side walls and a top wall or ceiling,an overhead ice tank unit comprising side and bottom walls to provide arefrigerant container, the upper portions of said side walls being offoraminous construction to surround an ice and salt mixture, the lowerportions of said side walls and said bottom wall being-formed ofimperforate corrugated sheet metal to retain an ice and brine mixtureand to provide strength for the container las well as to presentirregular 'outer surfaces of enlarged superficial area for contact withair to be cooled,

and means for detachably suspending said ice tank unit from the chamberceiling and for pivotally connecting said tan'k unit to a chamber sidewall, whereby the icetank unit is supported for refrigerating serviceand the lading space below and at the side of said ice tank unit isunobstructed by tank unit support means and where- .40 by the ice tankunit may be detached from seid chamber .ceiling and swung on the chamberside Wallpivotal connection for inspection and cleany 13. In combinationwith a merchandise chamber to be refrigerated,y an overhead ice tankunit tions of said side walls and said bottom wall being comprising sideand'bottom walls to provide a' refrigerant container, the upperfportionsof said side-walls being of foraminous construction to surround an iceand salt mixture, the lower porof imperforate construction to retain anice and brine mixture and being of irregular contour in cross-section toprovide strength for the container and to present irregular outersurfaces of enlarged superficial area for Contact with air to said outersurfaces of enlarged superficial areas to a side wall of said chamber,and at least one above 'the 1eve1 of the bottom wan er said tank unit,said drip pan and'bafiie and said tank unit being detachably connectedand closely spaced to culate through said tank unit foraminous wallportions for cooling by direct 'contact with ice as well as along theirregular outer surfaces of said conduit to receive refrigerated airflowing from said passage and having side wall outlet openings throughwhich the refrigerated air flows into said chamber, said conduitextending vertically at a side wall of said chamber and having itssaidopeningsl of such size and position that openings at one level of saidchamber present a greater Y section including an imperforate bottom walland 12. In combination with a merchandise cham` i e d walls of thebottom section to the roof of the car. s

16. In a refrigerator car .having a roof provided with a hah opening.the combination with said roof of an ice container located within thevladingespace of said car and an air ue structure cooperating with saidcontainer to promote a movement of air in a circuit having a portionparallel to a side wall of the car; said lcontainer including an icesupporting section and a foramipositions in said chamber, each ofsaidseries ex- I nous ic'e retaining section interposed between thefirst mentioned section and the roof of the car; the ice supportingsection including side and end l walls, each in alinement with one ofthe walls of the ice retaining section, an imperforate bottom and asurge preventing structure arranged to form in effect a; plurality ofbailies intersecting one another below said`hatch opening and eachconnecting one wall of the ice supporting section to the opposite Wallthereof; each baille being provided witha series of openings spacedabove said imperforate bottom and having its top edge flush with the topedges of the walls connected by such baille;d the air flue structureincluding a wall section parallel to and spaced from one of the sidewalls of the container, a second wall'section extending from the firstsection in paral.

lelism with and in spaced relation .to said imperforate bottom and athird section extending from the second section in parallelism with andspaced relation t said side walls of the car.

17. A structure of the type setforth in claim 14 Awherein said containerextends substantially to the roof of the car and wherein an upperportion thereof is foraminous. l

18. In a refrigerator car having a roof provided with a hatch opening,the combination with said roof cf an ice container located adjacent saidroof and an air-flue structure cooperating with said container topromote a movement of air in a circuit having a portion parallel to theside wall of said car, said container having an imperiorate lowerportion and a perforated upper portion, and a surge retarding structurearranged to form in effect a plurality of bailles intersecting oneanother below said hatch opening and dividing said container intocompartments, each of said bailles connecting one wall of the containerwith the opposite wall thereof, said structure providing openingsbetween said compartments, said air-flue structure including a wallsection parallel to'and spaced from one of the side Walls of thecontainer, a second wall section extending from the 'first section insubstantial parallelism an'd in spaced relation to said imperforatebottom, and a third section extendingl from the.

side walls, said chamber being provided with ver. l tically extendingair conduits lat each of the chamber side walls and transverselyextending air conduits on the door of the chamber, said side .neath allimperforate side and end walls and having bailles' wall and floorconduits communicating with the "interior of the merchandise chamber andalso with each other. the combination comprising two series of overheadice tank units positioned adjacent the merchandise chamber ceiling andbeing located substantially at diametrically opposite tending along aside wall of said chamber for substantiany half t 1ength thereofl andhaving a width corresponding cated along one 'chamber side wall and theother series being located along the other chamber side wall,l wherebysaid chamber is adapted for loadf ing with merchandise below each icetank vunit series from the chamber floor to adjacent the ice tank umtsand for loading with merchandise from each tank unit series to theopposite chamber side wall for the full height of said chamber,

having a foraminous each 'of said ice tank units upper wall portion foran ice and salt mixture and an imperforate lower portion for a brineconcentrate, and means providing an air baille and drip pan for each ofwall portions of all the ice tank umts in the respective series-toprovide said air'baiile and be- I the respective ice Atank units toprovide said drip pan, each'of said means being spaced from therespective ice tank unit front wall portions and the respective ice tankunit bottom portions to provide with chandise chamber side wall airconduits; whereby warm air within the car will rise, pass over saidbaiiles, and-pass downwardly in adjacent side wall conduits -fordistribution into said merchandise chamber from said side wall conduits20. In a refrigerator car, the combination a. merchandise chamber. and aside wall, of a plurality of ice tank units arranged adjacent thechamber ceiling and said tside wall, a plurality of means pivotallysupporting said ice units to provide for independent pivotal movement ofeach of said ice tank units, said plurality of means being mounted onsaid side wall. and means for each of said tank units to secure saidtank units independently to said chamber ceiling and cooperating withsaid pivotal supporting means to maintain said tank f units in positionfor refrigerating service, the securing means for each tank unit beingreleasable to permit such tank unit to be swung downwardly on thecorresponding pivotal supporting means independent of the position andmovement of the other of said tank units.

21. An overhead ice' tank unit for refrigerator cars and the like, saidice tank unit comprising a refrigerantcontainer having its length andwidth of greater dimension than its depth, said container havingforaminous upper side wall porl' tions for an ice and salt mixture andimperforate lower side wall portions and bottom for retaining a brineconcentrate, and foraminous partition members extending across theinterior of said v container and between opposite imperforate lower sidewall portions thereof and being integrally secured to said oppositelower side wall portions and to said container bottom to-reinforce saidrefrigerant container side walls and bottom and to reduce surging ofsaid brine partition members having their upper 'edges at asubstantially to one-half the width of said chamber, one series beinglosaidserles oftank umts, each of said means extending along the front hsaid ice tank umts circulating passages opening into adjacent meratopposite sides of the chamber and from said floor conduits.

with having a ceiling, a iloor f concentrate, said level notsubstantially higher than the Aupper edg'es of said imperforate lowerside Wall portions.

22. In a railway refrigerator car, the combination comprising amerchandise chamber, a hatchway extending through the car roof andchamber ceiling, a closure for said hatchway, an ice tank unit withinsaid chamber and below said hatchway, said ice tank unit having at leastan imperforate lower portion to retain a brine concentrate, avalve-controlled discharge for said tank unit, and operating means forsaid valve, said operating means extending at all times through the carroof adjacent said hatchway and having a handle extending toward andbetween said closure and hatchway. said operating means and handle beingadapted to be raised for valve opening operations when said closure isremoved from said hatchway and preventing closing of said hatchway bysaid closure except as said handle -is lowered to close said valve.

EDWARD A. SW'EELEY. NORMAN T. ANDERSON.

DISCLAIMER 2,305,645.Edward A. Sweeley, Alexandria, Va., and Norman T.Anderson, Washington, D. C. AIR REFRIGERATING AND CIRCULATINGFACILITIES. Patent dated December 22, 1942. Disclaimer led July 21,1943, by the patentees.

Hereby enter this disclaimer to claims 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 21 ofsaid patent.

[Oficial Gazette August 10, 1943.]

